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Senate House Library, University of London

Medieval manuscript fragments (12th-14th century)

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 830

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Medieval manuscript fragments (12th-14th century)

Date(s): 12th century-14th century

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 4 items

Name of creator(s): Unknown

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) was a Roman advocate and senator, who acted as tutor and, following his accession, political advisor to the Roman emperor Nero. He was implicated in a conspiracy and forced to commit suicide. His writings included a series of Moral Essays, which included 'De Beneficiis' ('On Benefits'), in which he discussed favours and the nature of gratitude and ingratitude.
St Jerome (c340-420) wrote a large number of theological works. Amongst his earliest were his revisions of the Latin version of the New Testament, including the Epistles of St Paul in 385.
The Clementinae is a collection of canon law, promulgated (1317) by John XXII, and drawn mostly from the constitutions of Clement V at the Council of Vienne.
The Missal is a liturgical book which contains the prayers said by the priest at the altar as well as all that is officially read or sung in connection with the offering of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the ecclesiastical year.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Medieval manuscript fragments formerly used as pastedowns, as follows:
1. Fragment of a leaf containing part of an abridgement of Seneca's De Beneficiis. Contains a complete paragraph beginning 'Iam vero transeamus' and ending 'deinde benficium' (corresponding to Book II, 18-19, p.36, line 26, to p.39, line 12 of the Teubner 1900 edition). The manuscript was written in the mid-12th century, and there are corrections and additional punctuation in a 12th-13th century hand.
2. Fragment of a leaf containing part of St Jerome's Epistola ad Paulum, headed LIII (53), from halfway through paragraph 7 'mundum ad poenitentiam' to the end, and the first few words of the Prologue to the Pentateuch (ending 'Latratibus patens'). The manuscript was probably written in France during the second half of the 13th century.
3. Fragment of a leaf containing Book III, 6 and 7, of the Clementinae, on testaments and burials. With gloss and annotations in a 14th century hand. The manuscript was probably written in Germany in the 14th century, and is also inscribed in a 16th century hand 'Francoise de Pont femme a Monsieur Jehan George Pipon faict avec Madame Monet Perrot sa femme'.
4. Fragment of a leaf containing part of the sanctorale from a Missal of Roman use, from the epistle of the Assumption of the Virgin (15 Aug) to the introit for the feast of St Agapitus (18 Aug), only the mass for St Laurence (17 Aug) being complete. The manuscript was probably written in Italy during the 14th century.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Latin

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Fragment 1: 27 lines; lines ruled in ink; writing above the top line.
Fragment 2: 47 lines written in 2 columns; 5-line initial D in red and blue with red ornament; running heading in red; paragraphs numbered in blue and red; red paraphs; rubricated.
Fragment 3: 2 columns; 38 lines on the recto and 20 on the verso; 2-line initials in red and blue with simple violet and red ornament; 2-line initials in red for gloss; red capitals; red and blue paraphs; rubricated.
Fragment 4: 24 lines in 2 columns; 3-line initial P decorated in red, blue, pink and gold; 2-line initials in red and blue with blue and red ornament; red and blue capitals; rubricated.

Finding aids:

See R Watson 'Descriptive list of fragments of medieval manuscripts in the University of London Library' (1976).

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Fragment 1 was previously MS.29/1 in the collection of A.G. and M. Hammond.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Given by Miss D. Bains in 1973.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.